Stone Tools and Techniques: Insights for ANTH 150 Lab 2

ANTH 150 Fall 2021 Lab Worksheet #2: Stone Tools TEAM NAME: Group Members present and actively participating: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. In class today you’ll circulate around the room looking at the materials at each of the 5 stations. With your group, answer the questions at each station. You don’t have to go in order. You will hand in this worksheet at the end of class, so make sure your responses are complete and readable. STATION 1: Tools to make stone tools This station has examples of basic tools used to make stone tools. With your groupmates (and drawing on our lecture discussions and your assigned readings for today), define/describe each of these terms below in 1-2 sentences. Then answer the questions on the following page. Hard-hammer percussion: Soft-hammer percussion: Pressure flaking: Indirect percussion: 1

ANTH 150 Fall 2021 STATION 1 (continued) What is the benefit of the soft hammer percussion technique over the hard-hammer percussion technique? What kinds of tools are made using the indirect percussion technique? When would you use the pressure flaking technique? STATION 2: The toolmakers This station has plastic casts of several of the skulls of the hominis that made stone tools. PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHEN HANDLING THESE CASTS. They are expensive and fragile. With your groupmates, fill out the table below noting the differences in the cranial anatomy between these examples. Then answer the question on the following page. Anatomically Modern Homo Sapiens (AMHS) Neanderthal Homo Erectus Brain case shape and size Facial shape and prognathism* Brow ridge Jaw, Teeth, and Chin * Prognathism refers to how much the lower facial skeleton protrudes 2

ANTH 150 Fall 2021 STATION 2 (continued) What do these differences in cranial anatomy suggest about stone tool making abilities and differences in behavior? STATION 3: Oldowan and Acheulean tools This station contains examples of the oldest stone tools: Oldowan and Acheulean. Take a look at the examples at this station and answer the questions below. Who made Oldowan tools? Who made Acheulean tools? What differences do you observe between these two tool types? Think about the symmetry of the tools. Does it seem like there is a mental template being used? Are they bifacially (worked on both sides) or unifacially (worked on one side) worked? Do you think Oldowan or Acheulean tools performed the same functions? Why or why not? If you think they may have been used for different purposes, what were these differences? Do Acheulean tools seem more sophisticated than Oldowan tools? Why or why not? 3

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ANTH 150 Fall 2021 STATION 4: Mousterian Tools This station has Mousterian tools, associated with Neanderthals. There are also Oldowan and Acheulean tools here for reference (in case you haven’t done Station 3 yet). With your group, answer the questions below. Look at the Mousterian tools and the Oldowan and Acheulan tools for reference. What differences do you note between these tool types? Specifically, how are the Mousterian tools different from the older Oldowan and Acheulean types? What additional steps are needed to make Mousterian tools? The Mousterian tools were made using a technique called the Levallois technique that we’ll discuss in lecture tomorrow. An outline of this technique is included in the handout at this station. Do you think Mousterian tools required more planning capacity? Why or why not? Look at the Levallois flake and core in the box. With your group, think about the steps needed to create this flake and sketch or describe the process below. 4

ANTH 150 Fall 2021 STATION 5: Upper Paleolithic tools This station includes several new tool developments during the Upper Paleolithic period, including blade technology. Answer the questions below with your group. Look at the blade core and blades. What are the advantages of this technique? In what ways is it similar to the Mousterian Levallois technique? How is it different? Another tray contains a variety of stone tools that were made from the blade flakes. What modifications have been made to these tools? What extra steps are needed to create these tools? What might some of these modified blade tools have been used for? How does the diversity in size and variability in tools compare to the Mousterian tool-kit? What might this imply about evolving human behavior? 5

ANTH150_F21_Lab2StoneTools

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